Zawahiri Was Target in U.S. Attack on Religious School in Pakistan  —  Alexis Debat Reports:  —  Ayman al Zawahiri was the target of a Predator missile attack this morning on a religious school in Pakistan, according to Pakistani intelligence sources.  —  ABC News has learned the raid …

Big Metros Show Severe Declines in Latest Circ Report  —  NEW YORK The Audit Bureau of Circulations FAS-FAX report for the six-month period ending September 2006 released this morning confirmed yet again that major metros are struggling to show growth.  The losses are steep while the gains are meager.

Write-in tightens race in District 22  —  Sekula-Gibbs running close to Lampson for the seat DeLay held  —  The Republican write-in effort to hold former Rep. Tom DeLay's congressional seat, once viewed as a long shot, has created a tight race, according to a Houston Chronicle-11 News poll.

Shadowy Nonprofit Attacks PA Dem from Left  —  Here's another thing to watch for this campaign season: front groups that attack Democrats from the left.  —  The Pennsylvania Senate race has provided a case in point.  TPM Reader TC, who lives there, sent us a scan of a mailer he received Saturday.

CNN hopes blogging is election-night blessing  —  An event aimed at getting instant reaction from online opinion makers is but a part of cable channels' efforts.  —  NEW YORK — Who says the mainstream media don't respect the blogosphere?  —  CNN is trying to incorporate bloggers directly …

The Story Behind the Polls  —  What's with the polls?  —  In 2004, the electorate that went to the polls or voted absentee was, according to the adjusted NEP exit poll, 37 percent Democratic and 37 percent Republican.  In party identification, it was the most Republican electorate since …

Shreddin' With Dick  —  Spotted on 10/19, by an eagle-eyed Wonkette reader: The Mid-Atlantic Shredding Services truck making its way up to the Cheney compound at the Naval Observatory.  —  Fun fact: Mid-Atlantic Shredding Services has been contracted by the Secret Service for our Executive Branch's record-not-keeping needs.

Midterm Vote May Define Rove's Legacy  —  Big Losses Could Dim Aura of Bush Adviser  —  By many calculations, Democrats are ready to make big gains in the midterm elections, enough to take over the House and possibly the Senate.  But White House Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten …

Santorum: Pension investments under Casey linked to terrorism  —  PITTSBURGH — U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum accused state Treasurer Bob Casey of "aiding and abetting terrorism and genocide," saying yesterday that state pension funds are invested with companies linked to terrorist-sponsoring states.

Lobbyists Won't Like What Pelosi Has in Mind  —  Odds are that lobbying in the House of Representatives is about to get harder.  —  If Democrats gain the 15 seats they need to win control of the House — and most analysts think they will — one of the first things the new House will do is restrict …

That's the ticket?  Speculation swirls over Mitt-Jeb pairing in 2008  —  Gov. Mitt Romney is tapping the seasoned political team of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, leading to speculation that the Mormon from Massachusetts may be courting the Bible Belt blueblood for a possible Romney-Bush '08 ticket.

Absent Without Leave  —  Early voting may result in late election results.  —  This year more voters than ever will cast ballots early.  The result may be that we get the final election results late.  It's possible we won't know which party controls either house of Congress for days …

PARKING GARAGE ALLEGATIONS: Mazzeo to press ahead  —  Lawyer says client will pursue claims against Gibbons  —  Cocktail waitress Chrissy Mazzeo will press forward and formally request that authorities investigate her allegations that Rep. Jim Gibbons assaulted her, the woman's lawyer said Sunday.

Roskam, Bean with slight leads  —  Key districts tight as Hastert, GOP try to keep control  —  A key pair of traditionally Republican suburban congressional seats are up for grabs, a new Daily Herald/ABC 7 Chicago poll shows - a threatening sign for House Speaker Dennis Hastert's grip …